Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

built by Selah Fitch. This mill is yet in good condition, and is
owned and run by Alonzo Miller.
The first store where general merchandise was kept for sale was
at Bunkerhill Center, and owned by Almond Cozier. Mr. Cozier
first started his store in 1854, and kept it until the winter of 1858,
when he was found dead in his store, it was thought of apoplexy.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE TOWNSHIP.
When the petition was being circulated asking the Legislature
to organize the township the question of the name was talked of.
David Fuller being first man to make permanent improvements
in the town claimed the right to furnish the name. He wanted to
name it "Emma" after the town he came from. Jonathan
Shearer, who owned all but one lot on section 29, opposed this,
saying that our town was not always going to be a little girl, and
that he would not present such a petition. Mr. Shearer was then
member of the Legislature from the west district of Wayne county.
He wanted to call it "Bunker" in honor of the man who built the
first house. Mr. Bunker did not like so much distinction, so the
matter was compromised by calling it Bunkerhill. Mr. Shearer
presented the petition to the Legislature and secured the passage
of the bill to organize the township. Bunkerhill is rather a level
town for such a hilly name.
It has a large area of open marsh, some of these marshes extending nearly across the town from north to south. The water all
runs south into Jackson county. The people of our town experienced great inconvenience by having no suitable outlet for the
main ditches, and very much of the marsh on the south side of the
town became flooded. When the drain laws were revised in
1881 our old drain commissioner was instrumental in getting a
clause inserted (Sec. 5, Laws of 1881) to enable the people of
one county to run drains across county lines into adjoining counties. Taking advantage of this act, fearing it would soon be repealed, our people had four separate drains extended far enough
into Jackson county to secure good outlets.